FearCast Podcast
Episodes
#256- Rubi’s Self Harm OCD and Emily’s Therapist Directed Limerence
24 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For the last episode of the year, I’m going to answer two, that’s right TWO, listener questions. These two questions from Rubi and Emily. The...
#255- Ed’s Fear Of Being Socially Humiliated
15 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ed recently sent in an audio question where he expressed a fear of being socially humiliated. This fear was triggered during a conversation with ...
#254- BDD Treatment With Kimbely Quinlan, MFT, and Chris Trondsen, MFT
08 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s episode is an exciting one! Kimberley Quinlan and Chris Trondsen joined me to talk about their new program focused on Body Dysmorphic D...
#253- Your OCD And Tics Will Hate This Episode With Nathan Peterson
01 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Nathan Peterson, therapist, youtuber, educator, and now author, joined me on this episode to talk about his upcoming book and upcoming video prog...
#252- Tina’s Question About Partner Focused ROCD
24 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tina recently reached out to ask a question about what she thinks is Partner Focused ROCD. She struggles with obsessions about her partner and is look...
#251- How Can Melody Help Her Hypochondriac Boyfriend?
10 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Melody sent me an audio question recently. She wants to know what she can do to best help her boyfriend who is struggling with health anxiety. He is j...
#250- How Do I Trust My Intuition Again After Awkwardness?
04 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I got an audio question from Burrito John who wanted to know he can deal with a situation. He’s obsessing about whether he actually liked someone, o...
#249- How Choices When Young Help SO-OCD Haunt You Later
28 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jeffrey messaged me and wanted to know how to forgive himself for his obsessions and past choices so he can finally move on with his life past the gri...
#248- When Obsessions Are Also Your Interests And Values- ROCD Edition
20 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dan reached out with an audio question to ask about what he can do when his interests and values happen to also be the focus of his obsession. Hijacki...
#247- Science Proves We Don’t Have Free Will… Now What?!
13 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Just in case the threats of the Rapture didn’t get you down (or amped up with anxiety) enough, GS comes along to ask the question about what to do, ...
#246- Are Generalized Anxiety Compulsions Different Than OCD Compulsions? GAD vs OCD!
07 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For today’s episode, I got a relatively simple question; what are the differences between the compulsions and other behaviors found in Generalized A...
#245- OCD Treatment And The Autism Spectrum With Dr. Jeremy Shuman, PsyD
22 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dr Jeremy Shuman, PsyD, joins me today to discuss OCD treatment for those on the Autism Spectrum. Dr. Shuman offers a wealth of knowledge, insights, a...
#244- Real-Event OCD: I Used AI And All I Got Was Guilt And Anxiety
15 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Alan sent me a message asking me about how he can deal with a spike in Real-Event OCD themes. He’s a reporter who used AI to help with his grammar, ...
#243- Toenail Fungus Obsession… Again, and Still!
08 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Annie reached out to me as a follow up to a previous question she had about her toenail fungus and her obsession about it. She noticed that after all ...
#242- What If You Actually Believe Your Obsessive Thoughts?
02 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I recently got a follow up question from the Emotional Contamination episode (#240) asking about what to do if/ when someone actually believes their O...
#241- The National OCD Survey with Dr. Caitlin Pinciotti and Jon Hershfield
26 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s episode feature Dr. Caitlin Pinciotti, PhD, and Jon Hershfield, MFT in our discussion of the National OCD Survey. The goal of the National O...
#240- Emotional Contamination For Ellie’s 14 Year Old
18 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ellie reached out to ask about how to help her 14 year old who is struggling with a fear of becoming like other people. Emotional Contamination the na...
#239- SO-OCD Is Leading To Troubles In The Bedroom. Help!
11 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ward emailed me to share a struggle he’s going through related to his SO-OCD. He notes that he’s in therapy and making progress, but the anxiety i...
#238- Will Payton Ever Be Able To See Life Past Her Nose Again?
04 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Payton reached out with a voice question on Instagram with a question that a lot of people who listen to this podcast can understand. She struggles wi...
#237- Alana’s Perfectionism Is Driving Her Nuts!
29 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Alana messaged me recently and asked about how she can tackle her perfectionism. It’s stopping her from sending in assignments, writing papers, and ...
#236- Being The Other Person In An ROCD Relationship With Danielle Cohen, LMFT
15 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wonder what it’s like to be the partner of someone with Relationship OCD (ROCD)? Well, one listener did too, and they reached out to me and ask...
#235- Is It Normal To Have Intrusive Thoughts On Purpose?
07 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Rick reached out to me recently to ask a very simple question with a not-so-simple answer. He wanted to know if it’s normal to have intrusive though...
#234- How Do I Stop, And Do ERP With, These Looping Violent Thoughts
30 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Abby reached out to me via Instagram to ask a question that starts off a little Harm OCD, but ends up a little Sensorimotor/ Hyperawareness OCD. She w...
#233- POCD: What If Therapist Actually Thinks I’m… You know?!
23 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
M messaged me recently to ask about a situation that is all too common. They struggle with POCD, but are terrified to go see a therapist for treatment...
#232- How Can I Be A Full Time Artist Without Scrupulosity Destroying Me?
16 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Struggling Artist emailed me with an admittedly long question. They want to become a full time artist but are struggling to take the leap because thei...
#231- Eden’s Casadastraphobia, and Taking Power From Sensorimotor OCD
09 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today I get to share a comment from Eden and a question from Nicholas. Eden wanted to share her experience with Casadastraphobia. I love being able to...
#230- Not Habituating To Anxiety Of Fungus Under My Fingernails!
02 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Katie reached out ask me a simple question about how to pursue Exposure and Response Prevention when she cannot habituate to anxiety after she has had...
#229- How Can I Fight The Daily Fight Against SO-OCD?
19 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Phil messaged me to ask a simple question; what can he do to fight the inner fight of SO-OCD? He comments that he is in a relationship but constantly ...
#228- Functional Neurological Disorder and Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures with Dr. Lorna Myers
12 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s episode features another amazing interview with someone at the forefront of their field. I had the privilege to interview Dr. Lorna Myers ab...
#227- Post Partum OCD with Dr. Jon Abramowitz
05 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In light of Mother’s Day, I had a chance to sit down with Dr. Jon Abramowitz and chat about Post Partum and Parinatal OCD, usually abbreviated as PP...
#226- Dealing With Dissociation, and Creative Corner with Erika McCoy
28 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For today’s episode, I answer a question from C. She wants to know what she can do about her dissociation and memory loss when she becomes triggered...
#225- Shame and Rebuilding Relationships After The Worst Of OCD
21 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jenn wrote to me asking about how she can deal with the feelings of shame and embarrassment after her family has heard the details, and been the recip...
#224- Why Does OCD Feel So Real?
14 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Kallie sent me a question that I’m sure every single person who has listened to this podcast has asked– “Why does OCD feel so real?!” She also...
#223- Fear Of False Memories, and Fear Of Losing Memories
07 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s episode includes two questions and two answers, both having to do with memories. For the first question, the listener wants to know what can...
#222- Intrusive Musical Imagery: What Is It, and How Do I Stop It?
31 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Max emailed me and asked a question that has never been asked on the FearCast before. He shares that he struggles with Intrusive Musical Imagery, or i...
#221- What Kind Of A Person Has POCD Thoughts, and What If I Cheated?
24 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s question comes from Rick and Emilie. Rick struggles with feeling terrible over the fact that he even has POCD related thoughts and worries t...
#220- Stuck In A Real Event Obsession: ERP, Or Live And Learn?
17 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s main question comes from a listener who seems to be stuck in a memory from two life events and she cant seem to get herself out of, away fro...
#219- I’m Attracted To The Memory Of My Elementary School Crush… Is This POCD?
10 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s question is a fun one (for me). PotatoChipFiend emailed me asking me how they should deal with recurring thoughts about their childhood crus...
#218- What Is The Best Exposures For Sensorimotor, And Attention Training
03 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For this week’s question, Sisi emailed me asking about the best exposures for Sensorimotor OCD. So, while of course I offer some suggestions and ide...
#217- Saying “No” To Real Event OCD Has Triggered My Real Event OCD!
24 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Maya messaged me recently with a question about her Real Event OCD. She decided to finally say “no” to a confession compulsion as part of her Real...
#216- Valentines Special: Open Relationships And The Fear of Being Replaced
14 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today I’m releasing an episode early in honor of Valentines Day! This question comes from Teddy who is in an open relationship and has a fear that h...
#215- Living Religious Scrupulosity Through Ramadan, With Mubeena Mirza
11 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Mubeena Mirza, LCSW, joined me today to talk about Religious Scrupulosity within the Muslim community in anticipation of Ramadan. Ramadan is a month-l...
#214- OCD Is Exhausting, So Are Kids. Do I Want Another One? Featuring Kelley Franke, MFT
03 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Kelley Franke, MFT, joined me today to answer a listener question about parenting with OCD. Lots has been written about how to parent a kid with OCD, ...
#213- I’ve gone through treatment, so why do I still get these intrusive thoughts?
27 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
MJ asks a great question, that I think a lot of people have too. She’s gone through treatment, which was pretty successful, but why is her brain sti...
#212- Obsessed With Someone Else’s Smell. Is That Sensorimotor?
20 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Adam messaged me recently with an audio question. He noticed that he recently has been obsessed with the smell of someone else. Memories of the smell ...
#211- I’ve Made A Terrible Mistake And Can’t Stop Ruminating About It!
13 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The FearCast is back in 2025! For today’s question, I answered Beth’s question about a mistake she made at the beginning of a fantastic relationsh...
#209- Living Well With OCD, Featuring Dr. Jonathan Abramowitz
16 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today I’m excited to share a conversation I had with Dr. Jonathan Abramowitz about his upcoming book Living Well With OCD. During our conversation, ...
#208- How Do Others Know “Deep Down” Their Obsessions Aren’t True?
09 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Gabriela messaged me and wanted to know how other people seemingly know, “deep down,” that their obsessions aren’t true. Have you ever heard tha...
#207- SPACE With High Dependent Adult Children With Natalia Aíza, LPC
25 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For today’s podcast, we are ALL lucky to have Natalia Aiza, LPC, on to continue our conversation about using SPACE treatment with the High Dependent...
#206- Why Do I Assume I Am, And What If I Am, What My Thought Say?!
18 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s episode is a two-fer, but to answer one I need to answer the other. The first is from a listener who wonders why he assumes his thoughts are...
#205- Vasovagal Syncope And A Fear Of Blood
11 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s episode comes from a listener who struggles with fainting at the sight of blood. To answer this, I discuss Vasovagal Syncope, a physiologica...
#204- Schizophrenia OCD From Reading About Schizophrenia?!
04 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s episode comes from Victor who’s having a tough time dealing with obsessions focused on whether or not he has Schizophrenia. Unfortunately,...
#203- Why Is Real Life Anxiety Tougher Than My ERP Anxiety?
28 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s audio questioner wants to know why the anxiety they experience from regular life and every-day triggers is worse than the anxiety they get w...
#202- Relationship OCD Spiked With Harm OCD? What To Do?d
21 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
To learn more about Harm OCD, check out this article from The California OCD and Anxiety Treatment Center Today’s audio question comes from Aaron wh...
#201- SPACE Treatment With Natalia Aiza, LPC
14 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s episode is all about SPACE Treatment! Natalia Aiza, LPC, joined me to talk about her expertise using SPACE, or Supportive Parenting for Anxi...
#200- Am I Creepy Or Just Morally Obsessed, And OCD Ruining Interests
07 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today is so special, I thought I’d answer two listener questions! The first comes from a listener who is questing themselves as they notice they hav...
#199- The Universe Put Us Together, But ROCD and SOOCD Is RUINING IT!
30 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s audio question comes from Spiritual Overthinker who has won the lottery with a wonderful guy with whom she clicks with on a deep, spiritual ...
#198- Is This Gut Instinct Legit Or Just My OCD?
23 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s audio question comes in from Doubting Debbie who asks a great question: is this thought she’s having legitimate and worth investigating, o...
#197-Trying To Beat SO-OCD, Despite All These Compulsions!
09 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s question comes from Overthinker. She asks the question about how to beat her SO-OCD. She’s confident she’s narrowed down the core fear, ...
#196- Can ERP Be Helpful To Someone Who Is In Denial?
02 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s audio question comes from Frank. He wants to know whether Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) therapy can be helpful to someone who is ac...
#195- Depression, Or OCD Making Feel Depressed, Or Both?
26 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s audio question comes from a listener who wants to know whether or not OCD can make them feel depressed, or if they just have depression, or ...
#194- Back To School Anxiety In Kids, Teens, And Adolescents With Elena Fasan, LCSW
20 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s episode is a timely one. I had the privilege of speaking with Elena Fasan, LCSW, about anxiety in kids, teens, and adolescents as they retur...
#193- Guilt And Shame, Groinal Sensations, And Confessing It All?
12 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s question comes from Tom. He messaged me and asked these questions three. How can he deal with the guilt and shame of having his particular t...
#192- Quirks Of Reassurance, and Friend Convincing Her She’s Gay
05 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For today’s episode, I answer two listener questions. The first question is about whether people with Scrupulosity tend to exaggerate their reassura...
#191- Wet Paint Contamination Obsession From Years Ago
29 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In today’s episode, I go over a question from James. He’s struggling with an obsession focused on items being contaminated simply by their associa...
#190- What If Things Get Bad After They’ve Been Good, And Too Embarrassed to address RE-OCD
17 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For today’s episode, I answer two questions from listeners. The first listener wants to know how they can best deal with the possibility of relapse ...
#189- Faith And Doubt: Scrupulosity Within The LDS Church With Claire Breedlove, LCSW
08 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s episode is a continuation of the Faith and Doubt Series. I am joined by Claire Breedlove, LCSW, who specializes in treating Religious Scrupu...
#188- Living A Full Life After OCD With Lauren Rosen, MFT
01 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s audio question comes from Worry Wart who asked about life after OCD begins and whether one can get back to the happy place they were in befo...
#187- Microdisagreements And Not Being Heard; OCD, Or Nah?
24 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s audio question comes from Liam who notices that he becomes upset when it seems like people keep disagreeing with him, or making it seem like...
#186- How To Sell Someone On ERP, And What To Do With Groinal Sensations
10 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today, Issy reached out with an audio question. She shared her story about diagnosis with OCD and her success with POCD, but wanted to know how to dea...
#185- Obsessions Causing Pain, Is It Bad Enough To Start Therapy, And Is OCD Caused By Depression?
03 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s episode is a mash up of a few emailed questions. First, a listener notices their obsessions about their thoughts increases physical pain and...
#184- Compulsions: Damned If I Do, Damned If I Don’t
20 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For today’s audio question, I answer Hannah’s question about her Sensorimotor/ Hyperawarness obsession. She shares that she’s had a few other ob...
#183- Am I In Denial Of My Sexual Orientation? Featuring Chris Trondsen, MFT
13 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For today’s audio question, Chris Trondsen, MFT, was kind enough to join me to discuss Panicasaurus’s question. The question is very layered and h...
#182- Are Unresolved Issues The Cause Of My SO-OCD Obsession?
06 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s audio question comes from Overthinking Queen who wants to know whether her obsessions are coming from some unresolved or unaddressed issues ...
#181- Driving Anxiety And Self-Criticism, And Schizophrenia Fears
22 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For today’s episode, I answer a few emailed questions! I’m going over two listener questions. The first one from someone struggling with driving a...
#180- Constantly Checking Whether Or Not I’m Happy. Help!
15 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Return FearCast audio question submitter questions whether or not they are happy. Like, a lot. In their relationship, with their friends, with their h...
#179- I Loved Her, I Reassured Her, She Left Me. What’s Going On?
25 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s audio question comes from a listener who’s trying to help her partner who seems to be struggling with some type of OCD. In the episode, we...
#178- Relationship OCD (ROCD) With Dr. Ran Littman, PhD
18 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s episode features Dr. Ran Littman, PhD, who joins me to discuss everything there is to know about Relationship OCD (ROCD). Dr. Littman is a r...
#177- Faith and Doubt: Religious Scrupulosity Within Islam With Mubeena Mirza, LCSW
11 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today is a continuation in the Faith and Doubt series where I highlight people working to help people overcome Religious Scrupulosity, the OCD subtype...
#176- No Longer Being Daily Obsessed Makes Me Question The Initial Obsession
05 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s audio question comes from a listener who previously, er… currently, is struggling with SO-OCD. They previously struggled with their obsess...
#175- The First Episode With Dr. Josh Spitalnick and Michael Stier On Health Anxiety
26 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
For today’s episode, I was able to have on Dr. Josh Spitalnick and Michael Stier, LPCC, to discuss health anxiety. They recently released the book “...
#174- Is SO-OCD Decreasing My Attraction To My Partner?
18 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s audio question comes in from “C” who wants to know whether her SO-OCD is decreasing her sense of attraction to her partner, or if she is...
#173- Health Anxiety, Hypochondriasis, Health OCD
12 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s episode is a special discussion of Illness Anxiety Disorder, Health Anxiety, Hypochondriasis,Health OCD, or whatever else you wanna call it....
#172- Handing An Obsession Resurgence; Return To Therapy, Or Deal On My Own?
29 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s audio question comes from a listener who wants to know how to deal with an obsession that comes back. Do they handle it on their own, or do ...
#171- Inconsistent Arousal, Childhood Experimentation, Lots of Checking… I’m Gay, Right?
22 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This audio question comes from a listener who lays out a lot of background, lots of evidence, and lots of experience. After careful consideration all ...
#170- Staying Present Amidst My SO-OCD and ROCD Obsessions, and Psychics Ruining My Marriage!
15 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s questions come from listeners both struggling with ROCD. One is struggling with the dreaded combo of ROCD and SO-OCD, and the other is strug...
#169- Confessing, Sharing, Or Getting Support With SO-OCD
24 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s audio question comes from a listener who has a question about how to get support from others when she is in the middle of high anxiety or pa...
#168- My Family Is Stuck And Overwhelmed By COVID
18 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s question comes from someone who is struggling with family members who are overwhelmed by the idea of COVID and continue to be enveloped by r...
#167- Religious Scrupulosity Treatment Triggers Self Harm Thoughts. Help!
11 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For today’s episode, I offer some guidance to a listener who is struggling with their treatment for their Religious Scrupulosity (Religious OCD). Th...
#166- ROCD: Do I Really Find Them Attractive? Did I Ever?
04 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On today’s adventures through obsession, I answer a listener question about Relationship OCD and the obsession toward a partner’s level of attract...
#165- Afraid Of Heart Attack If My Heart Rate Goes Too High!
20 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s audio question comes from Raymond who wants to know how to deal with his fear that he may have a heart attack or other medical event even th...
#164- Trauma-Informed Treatment For OCD With Dr. Caitlin Pinciotti
13 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s audio question is from a listener who has questions about approaching an issue that overlaps their OCD and trauma histories. How do you trea...
#163- Potential Radiation Exposure And Dealing With The Fallout
31 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s question comes from a listener who’s afraid that they’ve been exposed to radioactive material at some point and struggles to deal with t...
#161- Balancing Mental Health With Fear Of Missing Potential Medical Emergency (Health Anxiety)… Again
31 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
My uploading system is off! So sorry for the delay of this episode! Today’s listener question comes from a man who wants to know how to balance thei...
#162- Settling Into ‘Bisexuality’, And Blaming Myself For Eye-Floaters and Anxiety
23 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today I answer two listener questions. The first is from a woman who’s SO-OCD is quieted by believing she is bisexual, and she wants to know whether...
#155:Remix- Coping, And Doing ERP, With Contamination Obsessions That Can’t Be Disproved
17 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
I made a goof! I accidentally uploaded the wrong audio file for this episode. Blerg. So, I’m updating the original episode page and uploading the co...
#161- Balancing Mental Health With Fear Of Missing Potential Medical Emergency (Health Anxiety)
16 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s listener question comes from a man who wants to know how to balance their awareness that their health anxiety is driving them to compulsivel...
#160- Moral Scrupulosity With Jon Hershfield, MFT
09 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s episode covers the ins and outs of the OCD subtype focused on moral and ethical issues, more commonly known as Moral Scrupulosity. This is a...
#159- Yes Or No To Start Dating With SO-OCD, And To Give Money Or To Hoard Money?
02 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Two questions from two different listeners. One, should they start dating knowing they have SO-OCD, or should they hold off until they sort it all out...
#158- Is This Feeling My ROCD Or Picking Up On Bad Vibes, And DPDR, Hyperawareness OCD, and ERP
26 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today I answer two, but really kinda three, questions from listeners. The first is from a woman on her way to a date and she’s wondering if her ROCD...